Florence Grace

By: Tracy Rees

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Florrie Buckley is an orphan living on the wind-blasted moors of Cornwall. It's a hard existence, but Florrie is content; she runs wild in the mysterious landscape. She thinks her destiny is set in stone.

But when Florrie is 14, she inherits a never-imagined secret. She is related to a wealthy and notorious London family: the Graces.

Overnight Florrie's life changes, and she moves from country to city, from poverty to wealth. Cut off from everyone she has ever known, Florrie struggles to adapt while learning the rules of a strange new world. And then she must try to fathom her destructive pull towards the enigmatic and troubled Turlington Grace, a man with many dark secrets of his own.

©2016 Tracy Rees (P)2016 WF Howes Ltd

Utterly brilliant!!!

Ever since listening to Amy Snow, I have been waiting to download Tracy Rees' next book. My only regret is that I didn't listen to it slower. With the exception of sleeping, I literally listened all the way through. I believe I can officially declare this my most favorite book of 2016. It was even better than Amy Snow! The writing was gorgeous, the characters vivid and so realistic, the descriptions of Cornwall absolutely breathtaking. The story had so many ups and downs, weaving together an intricate tale of family loyalty, complicated love, obligation, loss and self-discovery. Once again Imogen Church did a fantastic job narrating this novel. She was perfect. I would give this ten stars if I could. Don't pass this book up! The only downside now is waiting for her next. Brava, Ms. Rees. This book will stay with me for many weeks.

It tried. It really did.

What did you like best about Florence Grace? What did you like least?

I really enjoyed her story in the beginning, but the middle and end it just fell flat. In the start you get this amazing no-nonsense girl who is smart with a touch of mystery. She also is funny, adventurous, and just a joy to read about.
Then we get to the 2nd part of the story and she changes (i know that's the point) but it's not for the better. The story is redundant and we get the same plot over and over in different chapters. I can SEE the message behind the whole book- that family is what you make it not what you're given..but getting there is slow and painful and we saw the whole message early on and it just felt like it was a ''please get to the point'' book, but then the point never came.

What could Tracy Rees have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Have something happen. Honestly.

Have you listened to any of Imogen Church’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narration does not match the book...as in the narration is amazing and the book is lackluster. She is an incredible narrator and really brought the characters to life. Everyone had a different voice, tone, and it was believable. It wasn't like others where they tried to play a kid and made their voice very squeaky, or a man where they try to go too deep. Her accents were very believable (mind you i'm not cornish) but it was a lovely book to listen too in that regard.

Could you see Florence Grace being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Who cares?

Any additional comments?

I'm assuming if you're upon this book it's because you read Amy Snow. Amy Snow is not one of my favourite books but it was at least memorable. This book will just fall to the wayside compared to Amy. The main character is interesting at first, but the depth just isn't there. If it's on sale buy it, but save your credit- Maybe try something else in the meantime. But the beautiful things about books is that it's very subjective so I feel a bit hypocritical telling you ''don't get this''
Maybe you will enjoy it more than I did. Imogen Church is enough to pull this book through. I hope if you do purchase this book that it moves you more than it did myself.
I will continue to give this author my time because I believe she has good stories to write because of Amy Snow, but if this was the first book I purchased from her I probably wouldn't of purchased Amy Snow.
Anyhow, try Simone St. James if you haven't, it's a similar type of book and I find I felt more gratified with the stories there.

Delightful

I do so enjoy a good story, and this is such. Beautifully narrated, wonderfully spun, I find myself weeping and laughing in turn. Well done indeed.

Excellent excellent performance and writing!

I love Tracy Rees style if writing. She is a very detailed descriptive writer. She pulls me into the story and I can't put it down until I finish and then I want more!! This story is a mix of Jane Austin and Lucy Montgomery's Ann if Green Gables style to it.
I will read anything written by Tracy Rees. She puts such thought and care into her stories. Excellent read.

Imogene Church narrated this story absolutely perfectly! She had all expressions and accents down pat perfectly. It was so realistic that I believed each character was actually speaking and hard to remember that all this characters "voices" came out of the same person. As the the story was written in the first person, I truly believe that Imogene was actually Florence Grace. Kudos to you for s job well done!!

Disappointing after "Amy Snow"

I selected this book because I absolutely loved her book "Amy Snow". Very different books. I thought this one was depressing and somewhat tragic. Not a "feel good" book. It was longer than it needed to be and some parts were random. The character Hawker was strange and I never understood what he was trying to accomplish. The entire part about Calantha made no sense.

I will say the ending was better and overall had a good message, but not worth a credit.

Unexpected...overwhelming...insightful...

a wonderful story, not of "coming of age" but of coming to accept the deepest impressions, feelings, and instincts that make up a wise and "special" woman who truly knows herself. Florrie's journey to become Florence Grace inspires me to follow her example: listen to my own instincts and desires, contemplate the natural and supernatural world around me, and have patience and great faith in the future and in the people I love. Through the highs, lows, terrors, and heartbreak of her life, Florence becomes "grace" personified.

Cornish gem

this is a wonderful read. I found it difficult in a few parts but otherwise I couldn't put it down. narrator does a wonderful job and the story comes to life.

Wise and wonderful

A beautiful book set in the wild Cornwall and the rigid , dark London. A tale of love and life, joy and sorrow, but a bigger tale of how each person fits into the wholeness of life. Good performance.

Amazing story. I was swept away immediately.

Loved this as much as Amy Snow. An amazing cast of characters and so very relatable for all who've loved someone who can't love them self. Brilliant work yet again.

Wonderful, simple and wonderful

Ms Rees tells a story of a girl. But, not just any girl, a "special girl" (which is what her grandmother, Nan, calls her). As Florence, the special girl, grows in body, she grows in wisdom and strength of character as well. This book touched a chord in my spirit. Which is one of the most wonderful gifts that books can impart to its readers (or listeners). A beautiful story that if passed by, will be the loss of any reader

Wonderful

Tracey Rees is a wonderful author - both this and Amy Snow are delightful books. They are elegant, funny and relaxing, I would highly recommend them

Good easy listening

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this gentle story. It was read well and clearly. Thank you

Very Dull: Heroin does nothing of any interest

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was good - the voice was good

Any additional comments?

This book was just so boring. The main character did extremely little apart from complain about what was happening to her and the choices other people made.

I kept listening hoping that something was about to happen to make it more interesting or exciting but kept being disappointed. If it was not for long car journeys this book would have been abandoned.

Amazing

Every bit as good as Amy Snow! Loved it, didn't want it to end, wasn't sure what was going to happen!

Tracy Rees does it Again!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I loved Amy Snow so the most logical thing to do after finishing it was to see what else Tracy Rees had on Audible, which is where Florence Grace comes in. I can't say I loved it as much as Amy Snow but it is definitely a recommend listen as, just like Amy Snow I found it very hard to put down. Fans of Rees will not be disappointed.

another great find

the historical stuff never got in the way of a great story . it enhanced it

Florrie

Loved this book.
Another extremely well written book by Tracy Rees taking you back in time.
Great narration by Imogen Church as per the first Tracy Rees book Amy Snow.
Highly recommend

AN ENGAGING STORY!

This story was brought to life by a delightful narrator who was a joy to listen to. This author is a breath of fresh air and I have enjoyed Amy Snow and this one immensely. look forward to more of her writing.

dismal listening

I usually can fight to get to the end of bad books without any resentment but this book left me feeling very annoyed for time wasted. Florence was an annoying whining never heroine. The behaviour of Turlington is a repetitive loop of the same rubbish with no justification. I was literally groaning at the excessive use of variations of words of the same meaning to describe just how slighted Florence felt. Dismal !

word heavy.

I found this story to be too deep into descriptions and thoughts of the main character. took ages to get into. glad to get through it.